Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-09
VOLUNTEER IN THE VAN.
First Hours Of the 128.Mile Yacht Rae

VOLUNTEER IN THE VAN.
First Hour. Of the 128.MiIe Yacht Race.
| STARTING ON THE ENGLISH PLAINTIFF NEW STEEL
| CLIPPER LEADING THE FLEET FROM THE FIRST.
| dispatch to the New York Sun gives the fol-
| lowing account OF the start OF the yachts from
Cottage City, Mass, yesterday: The flagship
Electra anchored a mile and half due north OF
the little red lighthouse on the summit OF East
Chop, and promptly at six bells or O'Clock, nreo
the starting gun. That was considered the start
ing time OF each yacht, and every skipper did his
level best to be nearest the line that he cOuid
get the advantage OF crossing first. This Is the
| English way OF doing the thing, and Is termed
starting from gun fire. The result was some very
pretty maneuvering back Of the line for favorable
positions. The Puritan had calculated to such
| nicely the time OF the start that the Old cup
gun doomed. That superb white-steel clipper,
| the Volunteer, had not been idle in maneuvering.
| She reached up on the wind on the port tack and
crossed the line only thirty seconds later. Mean
While the other yachts were crOwding one another
| In their ambition to get ahead. Accidents seemed
imminent several times but they were luckily
avoided by the expertness OF sailing-masters. The
Puritan broke out her little 1ibtopsatl as she
crossed the line, and the Volunteer shook large
bit or canvas on the lively breeze moment later,
and what joyous sight 1t was to patriotic tars,
gtlt-edged and otherwise, TO watch the slim model
|
her working topsail, fore staysal Jib and Ji6top-
| sail. She bounded TO windward OF the Puri-
tan, and a few minutes later started sheets
hawk on g hen, and passed her with
| surprising ease. Following the Volunteer across
the line In perfect swarm that sometimes threat
| ened to become tangle came the cutter Stranger,
the sloop Oracle and the flagship OF the Eastern
Yacht club, Commodore WEEDS schooner G1Gana
The stranger just shaved the flagship The sloOps
Cinderella and Atlantic crossed next and then the
schooner Wanderer, the cutter Bedouin n, the soop
The Mayfiower was belated and crossed five min
| uteS after the Puritan. The schOOners TrOubadour
ksou5e the big iron s00p PRISCILLA
The s'E Titania 0S had barely w room enough to
The Titania's skipper did not wish to get TO lee
| ward OF the big two-Stcker, and he blanketed.
Swimming through the white friliS after the Tita-
| MIA were the schooner IrOquOiS and Sachem, the
Gutter Clara, the schooners Magic. the slOop Poca-
hontas, that colossal ard gorgeous two-sticker,
and the schooners Mohican, Republic and Phan-
| tom, which was the last yacht that crossed, at
Viking, Halcyon, Wave Crest and Crusader did not
enter The race, and started ahead Of the contest
| ants for the Morgan cup. The SloopS Mischfef,
| Mystery, AthlOne, and Concord also preceded the
| fleet
THE WIND INCREASED
| as the yachts went on, and the grew trif1e
| lumpy. The course was east by north, and al
stood on the port reach, with the wind we'll for
| there was too much air stirring for jibtOpsallS,
and they were hauled down. All the Dig boats
chung to theirs. Many OF the schoOners carried
balloon maintopmast staysails in addition to jb-
| topsa1S. 1t was splendid weather to test the
qualities OF big boats The Puritan was handled
as well as the veteran Capt. Aubrey Croker knew
how TO handle her, and every yachtsman knows
that is In almost Incompatible style. But the
dear old craft hadn't it in her TO successfully
wrestle against the Volunteer in that breeze The
Puritans lee rail was frequently awash, and spray
| broke over her bow. but the steel yacht stood up
Ito loo piyYn nd ntn mod hA nfpr
| with as little commotion as a sword1sh. The own
ers on both boats were having them sailed in the
friendliest but most sincere rivalry for all they
were worth Steadily the steel marvel bounded
| away from the Puritan. The Maytiower's chase
was a stern one, which is prOverbially long. Capt.
Craven was not only sailing her against q very
good yacht and an excellent yacht but against
two shrewd shippers tuSsling TO keep up their rep
utations. The Gitana, Commodore Weld, and the
TrOubadOur Resolute, Republic, NOkOElis, Wan
derer, MOhican, Palmer, and NOrseman We're also
having little race among themselves fora sweep
| stakes OF 800. The Gitana which was one or the
leading SchOonerS OF the fleet, broke her bObstay
when about an hour out, and returned to Vineyard
| Haven. The Giitana was also matched to sail the
1roquois for 800 side. Commodore Weld re-
ceived the commiseraton OF Gen. Butler. As the
Gitana, returning, passed the America the general
put his right hand on his heart, lifted his Panama
hat and indicated by other pantOmime that he
| regretted that the America would have to rorego
the pleasure of winning the 500 prize from
half an hour after starting. The wind was
too strong for her jibtopsail, and she carried
|
| AT o'clock
THE FIVE GIANT sLooPs
were leading the fleet. The Volunteer was half a
mile ahead OF the Puritan. The Atlantic came
next, closely hunted by the Priscilla, which was
doing surprisingly good work. She went by the
the leading schooner. The Old America was close
to her, and the Palmer not far behind. But the
Sachem was gaining on all the twO-masted lead
erS In way that showed she would soon Overtake
and pass them. The Volunteer passed Cross Rip
ahead now, and the steel clipper took In her jib-
tOpsail. She was just about a mile ahead OF the
Puritan. The MayfiOwer had gained on and over
taken the Atlantic and Priscilla and was now half
mile astern OF her elder sister. The wind was
decreasing and there was quite a jump or sea on.
The tide, which mad been against the racers thus
far, was just beginning to turn. The MayfiOwer
went to the starbOard tack at 9:33 The quintet
of giants got to the Handkerchief lghtship in a
her great superiority in dead to windward work.
She rode the sea like big swan. From the Hand
kerchief to Shovelful lightship the tide was fair
| The brisk wind had moderated to gentle
breeze, and 1t soon became evident that even the
phenomenal Volunteer could not cover the 1876
mile course until early morning, unless favored by
a free wind She passed Shovelful light at 1920
The Puritan was then miles dead TO leeward,
and the May1ower, Priscilla, and Atlantic were
ahead OF the Oracle and the steel Titana followed
her. The Sachem had overhaued the Palmer and
| led the SchoOnerS.
At Pollock Rip, about 80 miles from the start.
the leaders were timed thus from the Electra:
! Volunteer, 10:41 :45; Puritan, 1851 ID; May
flower, 1O:57:3O; Priscilla. 1O:59:5O; Atlantic,
IL :01 :32; BedOuin IL :1O:33; Oracle, IL Ill :O2
Sachem, IL 80; Palmer IL :2S :a3
THE PURITAN LOSES HER TOPMAST
A telegram to the New York World from Chat
ham, Mass, August 8, says, The sloop yachts at
12:15 am. were standing In from Pollock Rip
toward the Chatham Light. The Volunteer leads
the fleet. The Volunteer continued to increase her
lead over all TILL out OF sight. The Puritan held
her lead over the MayflOwer until of Chatham
| Bar, when she took long reach OF shore lost her
| tOpmaSt, and Was obliged to wear around and lose
time In getting clear OF the hamper. Upon getting
in shore again she was behind the Atlantic
PACIFIC RAILROAD INQUIRY.-Judge Curtis in
San Francisco, yesterday, denied to the Pacific
! railroad investigating committee that eX-Secretary
| Miller ever intruSted him with certain contracts
which, 1t Is alleged, he destroyed. Secretary Mil
Ter testified that the capital OF the Central Pacific
Railroad Co. was increased TO 800 0OO, 600 in 1868
| TO allow them to control greater Indebtedness.
| The inquiry will close August 81.
| GAS YOU LIKE IT. IN THE OPEN AIR-At Man.
cheSter-by -the-Sea Mass, novel performance of
Shakespeare's comedy "AS You Like It" was given
yesterday afternoon the lawn fronting the
MascOnOmo House. The ''Stage" consisted OF a
highly artistic rural arrangement OF trees, shrub
| berry, rocks, &c. Facing this was large audience
tent from which a Iull view or the representation
could be obtained. The large audience was made
up almost entirely OF members OF the dramatic
profession.
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